Journal construction



May 23, 1933. F. ADAMS JOURNAL CONSTRUCTION Original Filed Dec. 22, 1930Patented May 23, 1933 umrae STATES PATENT OFFICE realm ADAMS,

nee co... or mansrman,

OF MANSFIELD, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO IDEAL ELECTRIC & MANUFACTUR- OHIO, ACORPORATION OF OHIO JOURNAL CONSTRUCTION original application filedDecember 22,

My present invention relates in general to a journal construction andhas more particular reference to a dust-proof, self-lubricating bearing,the same comprising separate subject matter of invention divided from myco-pending application, Serial Number 503 928, filed December 22, 1930,for electric motor.

One object of my invention is to provide a journal having means toexclude foreign matter, such as dust and dirt, en ering the journalparts.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bearing an oil or greasechamber incorporated therein and having means to permit the chamber tobe loaded at intervals, the bearing also including a novel constructionwhereby leakage of the lubricant along the shaft carried in the bearingis substantially prevented.

Another object of the invention is to provide a journal having arotated-shaft'having self-regulating means and providing efficient andsubstantial oil sealing means to prevent the escape of the lubricantalong the motor shaft. The journal is of simple construction and easilyexcessible to facilitate assembly and disassembly.

Another object of this invention is to provide the bearings withlubricating means which will effectively lubricate the bearingsirrespective of whether the motor is mounted on the floor, the ceilingor a side wall, it only being necessary to change the adjustment of thevarious parts a slight amount in order to effect this result.

Another object of this invention is to provide a lubricating means forthe bearings which isprotected from dust and dirt when the bearing isremoved from its support or when the motor is partially disassembled.This lubricating means comprises, preferably, means for injectlng agrease into intimate contact with the bearing and for substantiallyenclosing the bear- 1930, Serial No. 503,928. Divided and thisapplication filed April Serial No. 528,580.

ing and rease even when the bearing is removed rom its support. Such agrease sealing assembly is adapted to be used at one or both sides of astandard bearing and is designed to contain a sufficient quantity ofgrease so as not to require regreasing of the bearing except at longintervals.

Another object of this invention-is to prevent the leakage of lubricantalong the motor shaft.

Another object of this invention is to provide a bearing of the classdescribed, which is simple in construction to facilitate assembly anddisassembly, which is rugged and durable in operation and inexpensive tomanufacture.

Numerous other objects and advantages will be apparent from thefollowing description, which, taken in connectionwith the accompanyingdrawing, discloses preferred embodiments of my invention.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the end halves of a journalembodying my present invention;

Figure 2 is a cross-section taken substantially along the line 2-2 inFigure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary viewshowin the parts, illustrated in Figure 2,in shifted position as a part of the adjustment of the bearing;

Figure 4 is similar to Figure 3 and illustrates a modified constructionembodying the invention;

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 2, shpiwing the bearing with itscap removed, an

Figures 6 and 7 are elevational views of elements embodied in thebearing'assembly.

To illustrate my invention, I have shown on the drawing aself-lubricating, dustless journal well adapted for general bearingpurposes wherever it is necessary to support a rotating shaft. Thejournal, however, is especially adapted for incorporation in electricaland other machinery such as motors, generators, pumps and the like.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, it will be noted thatthe' bearing and bearing support is mounted in a frame 16, which may beany suitable wall portion or frame in which the journal is to bemounted.

This bearing is of the anti-friction or ballbearing type. Theball-bearing comprises an inner race and an outer race 21 between whichare interposed the balls 22 as in the usual ball bearing construction.The inner race 20 is press-fitted on the bearing portion 18 of the shaft17. Before pressing the race 20 on the bearing surface 18, a ring 23 isplaced over the bearing portion 18, and when the race is pressed ontothe bearing portion 18, this ring 23 is brought into abutting relationWith a shoulder 24 on the shaft 17 and held in that position by the race20. This ring is what is known as a grease slinger and derives its namefrom the fact that as the shaft 17 rotates, any grease which contactswith the ring will be thrown outwardlyand for a purpose which willappear presently. Against the outer side of the race 21, ll arrange thebearing cap 25 which has an annular portion 26 fitting within theannular bearing support 16, to center the bearing capwith respect to theshaft. A primary grease seal 27 closes one end of the space between theraces 20 and 21, and is held in position by being secured to one or theother of the races.

On the other side of the ball bearing 1 arrange a bearing cap 28 whichhas the annular portion -29 arranged within the bearing support 16 tocenter the bearing cap with respect to the bearing support. Bolts 29hold the bearing caps 25 and 28 against the opposite sides of thebearing support 16. The bearing cap 28 is provided with a grease inlet30 and a pressure grease inlet 31 which permits the entrance of greaseunder pressure to the passage 30, but excludes the dirt which mightaccumulate thereon. The bearing cap is also provided with an annularportion 32 which surrounds the shaft 17 and has grooves 33 therein toassist in preventing the leakage of grease out of the bearing cap 28.This method is conventional and needs no further description here. Asecondary grease retaining ring 34 having a cross-section substantiallyas shown in Figure 1 is arranged between the annular portion 29 of theinner bearing cap 28 and the outer race 21. A spring 35 of the shapeclearlyillustrated in Figures 1 and 6 surrounds the. annular portion 32of the bearing cap 28 and abuts against the secondary grease retainingring 31 so as to hold the grease retaining ring against'the outer race21 whileeat the same time permitting the race 21 and ring. 34: to moverelatively to eachother. The inner bearing cap 28 is large enough tocontain a large supply of grease so as not to require a replenishing ofthe same except after a long period of use.

With the construction of the bearing just described, it will be seenthat the grease.

slinger 23, secondary grease retaining ring 34, primary grease retainingring 27 and bearing caps 25 and 28 effectively retain the grease andprevent the same from working out onto the motor parts which are outsideof the bearing caps. Another advantage of the grease retaining meanswhich I have disclosed is that bearings may be partially dismantled orthe motor itself may be partially dismantled without exposing thebearing to foreign matter thereby maintaining the grease in perfectvcondition for lubrication, it being well understood that it is extremelyobjectionable to have foreign matter in the lubricating grease for themotor. In order to accomplish this result, I provide an annular groove36, in the shaft 17 and- I provide a substantially triangular springclip 37 which is snapped into the groove 36 so that a portion of each ofthe three sides thereof is arranged within the groove 36. Let us assumenow that it is desired to dismantle the hearing. In order to do this,the bearing cap 25 is taken off after the bolts 29 have been removed.The removal of the bearing cap 25 causes the spring 35 to move theinnerbearing cap 28 against the spring 37 thereby permitting the movement ofthe bearing cap along the shaft '17, as is best illustrated in Figure 3.Since the race 20 is press-fitted on the bearing portion 18 of theshaft, it is prevented from moving along the shaft, and consequently,the race and bearing cap 28 are maintained in fixed relation withrespect to each other. In spite of the factthat the bearing cap 28 isreleased from clamping engagement with the bearing support 16 and thebearing cap 25 is removed, the parts are still so arranged with respectto each other that no more foreign material can enter the greaseretaining space than could have entered the grease retaining space whenthe parts were in assembled position as will be noted by a carefulinspection of Figures 1 and 3. The secondary grease ring 34 shown inFigure 3 has a cylindrical portlon concentric with the axis thereof uponwhich the inner annular portion 29 of the bearing cap 28 is arranged toslide, and this cylindrical portion of the ring '34 is of sufficientlength to prevent the uncovering of the grease retaining space even whenthe bearing cap 28 is moved into the position shown in Figure 3 afterthebearing cap 25 is removed. Not only is the greaseretaining spaceeffectively enclosed after the bearing cap 25 is removed, but it is alsoeffectively enclosed even though the end bracket 10 is removed afterfirst removing the bolt 13'. Of course, the primary grease seal 27protects the other side of the grease retaining space and theantifriction bearings and bearing surfaces.

- The shaft may then be removed from the 7 frame 16 with the bearingthereon.

scribed being preferred In Figure 4, I have shown a modified arrangementfor holding the secondary grease' retaining ring 34 in place and forlimiting the movement of the bearing cap 28 along the shaft 17. In placeof using the ring 35, I use an ordinary coiled spring 44 and in place ofthe spring 37 I use a ring 45 which means Ihave hereunto subscribed myname.

FRANK ADAMS.

is secured to the shaft 17 by means of a set screw 46 which is threadedin the ring 45 and extends into a depression 47 in the shaft. Theoperation of the device shown in'Figure 4 is substantially the same asthat shown in Figure 3.

It is thought that the invention and numerousof its attendant advantageswill be fully understood from the foregoing description and it isobvious"- that numerous changes may be made in the form, constructionand arrangement of the several parts without departing from the spiritor scope of my invention or sacrificing any of its attendant advantages;the forms herein depurpose of illustrating my inventlon.

Having thus described my invention,

what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a support frame having an opening,

rotatably support a shaft for rotating shafts, a

inthe opening,

'meansto lubricate the support means and retaining the escape oflubricant along comprising means to prevent shaft and formed to define alubricant chamshaft support means,

cent the shaft support- ,the lubricant may escape ontothe ber adjacentthe shaft support means from which the lubricant may escape onto thesaid cap having a portion forming a collar closely embracing the shaftand an oil slinger formed on the shaft adjacent the end of said collarto eject lubricant from the shaft at that point and a lubricant feedingring 'shiftably mounted in the chamber and resiliently depressibletherein to utilize end play of the shaft in continually feedingthelubricant to the shaft support means.

2. In a support for rotating shafts, a frame" having an opening,

support means to rotatably support a shaft in the opening means tolubricate the support means and retaining means to prevent the escape'oflubrisupport means to I the shaft, said means an annular cap embracingthe embodiments for the cant along the shaft, said means comprising anannular. cap embracing the shaft a nd formed to define a lubricantchamber adjameans from which port means, said cap'hav ng a portionformshaft suping a collar closely embracing the shaft and

